I’m usually not one for golf books, but here’s a definite exception. Ping Golf’s new book, And The Putter Went…PING, is a comprehensive look inside the Solheim family-owned company that revolutionized the way golf equipment was designed and manufactured. Available beginning May 1 at a suggested retail price of $100 (less expensive than most of its putter), the book is “must have’’ for golf equipment geeks and equipment historians.
The book chronicles Ping’s heritage and its on-going efforts to advance golf technology for the benefit of golfers of all skill levels. It takes readers behind the scenes of a genuine American success story that began in the family garage of Karsten Solheim, a Norwegian immigrant and mechanical engineer who invented the Ping putter in 1959.
Karsten Solheim
And The Putter Went…PING will be available at authorized PING retailers and through www.ping-shop.com. Visitors to PING’s headquarters in Phoenix will also be able to purchase the book.A limited edition with padded leather binding and gilded edges will be available for a SRP of $300.
The book (530 pages) was written by Jeffery B. Ellis, the author of numerous golf books, including the critically acclaimed The Clubmaker’s Art: Antique Golf Clubs and Their History. Nearly 1,000 pictures, many never-before published, provide a visual history of the brand and Ellis’ writing reveals several heart-warming and humorous stories for the first time. More than 70 people were interviewed and thousands of hours were spent researching the company archives and industry periodicals to help illustrate the rich and influential history of the brand named for the sound made by its first product – the Ping 1A putter.
“And The Putter Went…PING represents a 4½ -year effort with contributions by several current and former PING employees, friends of the company, golf professionals and industry leaders who shared their memories and insights into what has made Ping such a special company with millions of loyal customers all over the world,” said Ping Chairman John A. Solheim.
“We’ve shared a lot of personal stories and recalled many special memories dating back to the early days in our garage and leading up to the company we are today. Our family and employees have been very fortunate to be part of the golf industry for nearly 60 years. The book is a reflection of our never-ending commitment to making golf more enjoyable, and a tribute to all the golfers who have relied on Ping products to play their best. We wouldn’t have a story like this without their belief in our products and processes.”
The book documents the evolution of Ping’s innovative and game-changing products and the inspiration behind them, including the story of the legendary Ping EYE2 iron and its impact on golfers around the world. The unmatched success of the Anser putter and its continued influence on putter design more than 50 years after its invention is covered in detail.
John A. Solheim, the youngest child of Karsten and Louise, wrote the foreword. The afterword is authored by John K. Solheim, John A.’s oldest son, who was recently named Ping president.
